Requirements
and Restrictions
Learning Work?
or Live Event
Family Nurse Practitioner (Individual Across the Lifespan) Post-Master's Certificate
Classes Begin: September 21, 20262 years
Online - Residency Req.
38
CCNE-accredited, 100% board pass rates
Drexel University’s accredited, online Family Nurse Practitioner (Individual Across the Lifespan) Post-Master’s Certificate provides experienced nurses who have earned their Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with the opportunity to prepare for a highly-rewarding career as a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (CFNP). You will study with expert faculty at Drexel’s College of Nursing and Health Professions, using an industry-relevant FNP curriculum that focuses on preparing practitioners for primary care of the family and/or individual across the lifespan from birth to death. Graduates also become instantly eligible to sit for their Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam through AANP or ANCC.
What Does a Post-Master's FNP Certificate Teach?
Drexel’s online Post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certificate prepares current MSN-prepared nurses for successful careers as Family Nurse Practitioners by covering a high-quality curriculum that includes the following coursework:
- Advanced Pathophysiology and Pharmacology
- Clinical Health Assessment
- Diagnostic Reasoning
- Primary Care of Patients Across the Lifespan
- Professional Issues for Nurse Practitioners
Drexel’s FNP Post-Master’s Certificate curriculum focuses on well care and the management of episodic acute or chronic illnesses. You’ll study critical analysis of clinical strategies and interventions in health promotion, health maintenance, disease prevention, and common health problems seen in family medicine.
Where Can a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Work?
In today’s growing healthcare market, FNPs have the option of running their own private practice in certain states or can select from a wide variety of career opportunities in physician’s offices, emergency settings, family practice and home health agencies.
What Does Drexel’s Post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certificate Have to Offer?
- Ranked #5 in Best Online Family Nurse Practitioner Master's Programs by U.S. News & World Report
- Ranked #12 in Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs for Veterans by U.S. News & World Report
- The Family Nurse Practitioner (Individual Across the Lifespan) Post-Master's Certificate program at Drexel University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to sit for the Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam through AANP or ANCC
- Graduates of Drexel’s NP programs have a 100% board pass rate
- Synchronous online lectures offer a highly interactive learning format that challenges and engages
- The FNP Post-Master’s Certificate program is taught by industry-experienced and board-certified faculty from Drexel’s acclaimed College of Nursing and Health Professions
Practicum/On-Campus Requirements
This is a high-quality program that demands a major time commitment by advanced practicing nursing students. Because students are being trained to diagnose and treat patients, this program was designed to combine the convenience of online learning with the necessary rigor to become a highly competent and confident advanced nurse practitioner. Thus, while most courses are offered online, some facets of the program do require on-campus visits. During your time in the program, you will participate in mandatory on-campus and/or virtual intensives. The required intensives will be held during clinical courses. Exact dates and times will be confirmed with students prior to the term.
Pennsylvania RN licensure will be required prior to the start of your clinical components. While this is not a requirement for admission, we recommend starting the process immediately after admission.
Clinicals
The nurse practitioner programs in the Department of Advanced Practice Nursing at Drexel University provide you the flexibility of finding and coordinating your own clinical site and preceptor. The department also offers resources to assist you in this process. Accessibility to clinical sites and preceptors varies from state to state, and you may be required to travel to access clinical sites/preceptors and achieve the necessary clinical hours.
Online Open Houses
Learn more about this and other nursing programs during our upcoming online open house webinar series.
Questions? We're here to help!
For application related questions:
enroll@drexel.edu
For program related questions:
College of Nursing and Health Professions Program Team
CNHPGraduateDivision@drexel.edu
Online Nurse Practitioner programs are offered only on a part-time basis.
State restrictions may apply to some programs.
The Family Nurse Practitioner (Individual Across the Lifespan) Post-Master's Certificate program at Drexel University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Curriculum
This program is organized into four 10-week quarters per year (as opposed to the traditional two semester system) which means you can take more courses in a shorter time period. One semester credit is equivalent to 1.5 quarter credits.
| Support Courses | ||
| NUPR 520 | Nurse Practitioner Clinical Orientation Seminar | 0.0 |
| NURS 548 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 3.0 |
| NURS 549 | Advanced Pharmacology | 3.0 |
| NURS 550 | Advanced Clinical Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning | 4.0 |
| NURS 664 | Professional Issues for Nurse Practitioners | 1.0 |
| Concentration Courses | ||
| NURS 534 | FNP I: Primary Care of the Emerging Family | 5.0 |
| NURS 535 | FNP II: Primary and Episodic Care of Infants, Children and Adolescents | 5.0 |
| NURS 536 | FNP III: Primary Care of Adults and Older Adults Across the Adult Age Spectrum I | 5.0 |
| NURS 537 | FNP IV: Primary Care of Adults and Older Adults Across the Adult Age Spectrum II | 5.0 |
| NURS 538 | FNP V: Integrative Practicum in Family Practice Across the Lifespan | 4.0 |
| NURS 556 | Pharmacology for Family Nurse Practitioners | 3.0 |
| Total Credits | 38.0 | |
Admissions Criteria
- Master of Science in Nursing and/or Doctorate of Nursing Practice from program fully accredited by National League of Nursing (NLN) and/or American Association Colleges of Nursing (AACN.) The accrediting body for NLN is ACEN and the accrediting body for the American Association Colleges of Nursing is CCNE.
- BSN degrees must be from an institution accredited by CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education), ACEN (Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing), or NLN CNEA (NLN Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation)
- GPA of 3.0 or above
- 1-2 years of medical/surgical nursing experience preferred
- Current, unrestricted United States RN license
Required Documents
With multiple ways to submit documents, Drexel makes it easy to complete your application. Learn more by visiting our Completing Your Application Guide.
- A completed application
- Official transcripts from all universities or colleges and other post-secondary educational institutions (including trade schools) attended
- Two professional letters of recommendation from either previous or immediate supervisors or former nursing faculty members who can attest to your clinical knowledge, skill and potential aptitude for graduate study
- References will not be accepted from colleagues or family members
- Personal statement (800 to 1,600 words) that will give the admissions committee a better understanding of:
- Why you are choosing this particular track
- How your current work experience will enhance your experience in this program, and
- Your plans upon completing the degree
- Resume including specific details of your responsibilities and job experiences
- A copy of your United States RN license (License verification from your nursing license registry website is acceptable)
- Additional requirements for International Students
Tuition
The tuition rate for the academic year 2025-2026 is $1169 per credit. (A 10% tuition savings off Drexel's regular tuition rate of $1298 per credit)
For the academic year 2025-2026, students enrolled in an online graduate academic program will be charged a graduate online program fee of $125 per year.
- This program is eligible for Financial Aid.
- Special tuition rates available for Drexel University Alumni, Military members, and members of our Partner Organizations.
- These rates apply only to new online students and students being readmitted.
- These rates apply only to fully online courses. Hybrid or on-campus courses may have different rates.
- Tuition rates are subject to increase with the start of each academic year in the fall term.
- All students must contact applyDUonline@drexel.edu within the first two weeks of the term to request tuition savings for which they qualify.
- Special rates cannot be combined. If you qualify for more than one special rate, you'll be given the one with the largest savings.
- When receiving special tuition plans, you may not be able to combine them with other tuition benefits that may be available from Drexel University.
Academic Calendar
2025-2026 Academic Year
Term
Classes Begin
Classes End
Exams Begin
Exams End
Fall 2025
September 22, 2025
December 6, 2025
December 8, 2025
December 13, 2025
Winter 2026
January 5, 2026
March 14, 2026
March 16, 2026
March 21, 2026
Spring 2026
March 30, 2026
June 6, 2026
June 8, 2026
June 13, 2026
Summer 2026
June 22, 2026
August 29, 2026
August 31, 2026
September 5, 2026
© All Rights Reserved